Livestock feeder system with water level control

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a system for dispensing feed and water for livestock which includes a container arranged to receive the feed and water and is adapted to permit access to the feed and the water by the livestock for consumption. The system further includes a feed delivery means for dispensing feed into the container and water dispensing means for dispensing water into the container means. The water dispensing means includes a delivery portion extending into the container which houses a water level sensor. A control means is arranged to actuate the feed delivery means to dispense a controlled amount of feed into the container and is also arranged to actuate the water dispensing means to dispense water into the container through the delivery portion after actuation of the feed delivery means. The water level sensor within the delivery portion disables the water dispensing means after a predetermined level of water within the container is reached and the delivery portion is arranged within the container for washing residual feed within the container from the delivery portion to thereby preclude interference or clogging of the delivery portion and the water level sensor by the residual feed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a new and improved feederapparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for feeding livestockwhich includes a novel water dispenser and water level control.

In the raising of livestock, it has been determined that the quality oflivestock produced is enhanced by feeding the livestock at predeterminedintervals on a restricted basis. For example, in the raising of hogs,and particularly female hogs during their gestation period, increasedefficiency of feed conversion and improved quality of the producedanimals results when the hogs are fed predetermined or limited amountsof feed and water at specified intervals.

Because a great number of livestock are raised at any one time, in orderto take advantage of restricted feeding of the livestock, it isnecessary to provide a feeding system which not only provides access tothe feed and water by all the animals but in addition, does so on arestricted basis. Both the quantity of feed to be consumed by theanimals and the volume of water consumed by the animals must becontrolled. Furthermore, in order to assure maximum feed conversion, thewater is preferably presented to the animals after the animals have hadsufficient time to consume the feed.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide anew and improved system for dispensing feed and water to livestock on arestricted basis.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a systemwherein the feed is presented to the livestock for consumption and,after a predetermined time interval subsequent thereto, a controlledamount of water is presented to the animals for consumption.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide asystem for dispensing feed and water to livestock which includes a newand improved water dispenser which includes a novel water level controland which is arranged to wash residual feed away from the waterdispenser and the level control to preclude interference or clogging ofthe same by the residual feed.

The invention therefore provides a system for dispensing feed and waterto livestock comprising container means arranged to receive the feed andwater and adapted to permit access to the feed and water by thelivestock for consumption, feed delivery means for dispensing feed intothe container means, water dispensing means for dispensing water intothe container means and including a delivery portion extending into thecontainer means, and control means for actuating the feed delivery meansand water dispensing means. The control means is arranged to actuate andcause the feed delivery means to dispense a controlled amount of feedinto the container means and to actuate and cause the water dispensingmeans to dispense water into the container means through the deliveryportion at a predetermined time after actuating the feed delivery means.The water delivery portion of the water dispensing means includes awater level control for disabling the water dispensing means uponreaching a predetermined level of water within the container means andis arranged within the container means for washing residual feed withinthe container means from the delivery portion to thereby precludeinterference or clogging of the delivery portion by the residual feed.

The invention also provides a water dispenser for use in a feed systemof the type which supplies feed and water to livestock and whichincludes a container for receiving the feed and water. The waterdispenser includes a delivery portion extending into the container fordelivering water to the container, a water level sensor within thedelivery portion, and a valve means coupled to a source of water to bedispensed and to the delivery portion. The water level sensing means isarranged to close the valve means upon sensing a predetermined level ofwater within the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beappreciated by making reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures ofwhich like reference numerals identify identical elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a livestock breeding shelter incorporatinga feed and water dispensing system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the livestock breeding shelter of FIG. 1illustrating additional details of the feed and water dispensing systemembodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded side view, to an enlarged scale, and partially incross-section with portions broken away illustrating a water dispenserembodying the present invention and which forms a part of the feed andwater dispensing system of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial side view to an enlarged scale and partially incross-section of the water dispenser of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the livestock shelter there shownincludes a plurality of sidewalls 10, 12 and 14, a base or floor 16, anda roof 18. Within the shelter and extending upwardly from the floor 16are a plurality of fence portions which are arranged to form a pluralityof animal pens 22. Each of the pens 22 is sized to accommodate,preferably, a plurality of livestock animals such as hogs. The pens 22are further arranged in a linear or in-line manner to form a row of pensas illustrated. While only one such row of pens 22 is illustrated in thefigure, as will be appreciated hereinafter, additional rows of pens maybe provided within the livestock shelter without departing from thepresent invention.

The livestock shelter further includes a container means in the form ofan elongated trough 24 which is arranged to receive the feed and waterto be dispensed therein by the feed and water dispensing system. Thetrough 24 extends across all of the pens 22 and includes a bottom 26 anda plurality of sidewalls 28, 30, 32 and 34. The trough 24 is furtheropen at its upper margin to permit access to the feed and water by thelivestock within the pens 22 for consumption.

The feed and water dispensing system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 andwhich embodies the present invention includes a feed delivery means 34and a water dispensing means 36. The feed delivery means includes a bulkbin 42 or other source of animal feed. The bulk bin 42 may convenientlybe located outside of the wall 14 of the shelter. The bulk bin 42 has afitting or boot 44 at its lower end providing a discharge opening 46which is connected with a tube 48 extending upwardly from the lower endof the bin to a level above the animal pens 22. The tube 48 is curved soas to extend from the upwardly inclinded bottom of the boot 44 forconnection with a substantially horizontally extending straight tube 50disposed over the pens 22. The tube 50 may be made up from a pluralityof axially connected sections and is supported from the roof 18 of theshelter by cables, chains, or other suitable hanger elements 54.Dispensing or dumping units 56 are mounted on the tube 50 at spacedintervals and over the trough 24 in correspondence to the individualanimal pens 22.

In order to transfer the feed from the lower end of the bulk bin 42 toeach of the dispensing or dumping units 56, an elongated helical auger(not shown) extends throughout the length of the tube 50. The auger ispreferably in the form of a centerless flexible and resilient helicalspring-like member so that it is adapted to extend through the curvedportions of the tube 48 or around any other curves or corners which maybe necessary or desirable to provide in the tubing for a particularinstallation.

The spring auger extends continuously from the lower fitting or boot 44on the bulk bin 42. The downstream end of the auger is secured andanchored to a drive shaft 62 which is rotatably supported by a bearingunit 64. The normal length of the spring auger is correlated with thedistance between the boot 44 and the drive shaft 62.

The drive shaft 62 is connected with a suitable prime mover such as anelectric motor 66 through a speed reducing means. In the embodimentshown, the speed reducing means comprises a small pulley 68 fixed on themotor shaft 70 and driving an endless belt 72 which encircles a largepulley 74 on the drive shaft 62. It is to be understood that anysuitable power transmitting means or speed reducing gear unit could beused.

When the motor 66 is energized, the helical spring auger is rotated sothat feed is drawn from the fitting or boot 44 at the bottom of the bin42 upwardly through the tube 48 and along the length of the tube 50.Openings are provided in the bottom of the tube 50 at spaced intervalsand in alignment with each of the dispensing or dumping units 56. Theopenings may be in the form of elongated slots respectively extendingfrom substantially the full length of their associated dumping ordispensing units 56. Thus, as the feed is drawn through the tube 50,portions of the feed fall through the successive openings so that thedispensing or dumping units 56 are progressively filled. As each unit 56becomes filled, the level of the feed therein rises sufficiently toblock the openings associated therewith for preventing excessivefilling. When the endmost unit at the downstream end of the tube 50 isfilled, the control means described hereinafter de-energizes the motor66.

The feed delivery system thus far described is fully described andillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,055 which issued on June 13, 1967, tothe assignee of the present invention. That patent is incorporatedherein by reference and may be referred to for a more detaileddescription of the feed delivery system.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the dumping units 56 comprisesan elongated box or container including opposite end members 76 and 78having apertures therethrough for receiving the tube 50. Each of thedumping units further includes a hinged bottom 80. Each of the bottoms80 is maintained in a closed position by a corresponding latch member82. The latch members 82 are coupled together by a coupling member 84which terminates at an arm 86. After the dumping units 56 are filledwith feed to be dispensed, the arm 86 is displaced to cause the latches82 to unlock the hinged bottoms 80 for dispensing the feed from thedumping units 56 into the trough 24. The bottoms 80 are further springmounted so that the weight of the feed within the dumping units 56causes the bottoms 80 to open and the spring mounting of the bottoms 80thereafter to cause the bottoms 80 to return to their closed and lockedpositions after the feed has been dispensed into the trough 24.

The water dispensing means includes a water delivery portion 90, acontrol housing 92 which houses a control element to be describedhereinafter, a valve 94, and a solenoid 96. As can be best seen in FIG.3, the delivery portion 90 comprises a tubular section having a hollowedout portion 98. The tubular section 90 extends into the trough 24 at oneend thereof and terminates proximate to and closely spaced from thebottom 26. The valve 94 includes an inlet 100 adapting the valve 94 forconnection to a source of water (not shown). The valve 94 is coupled tothe tubular section 90 by a coupling conduit 102 for delivering thewater to be dispensed into the trough 24 from the valve 94 to thetubular section 90.

Mounted to the valve 94 is the solenoid 96. The solenoid 96 is arrangedto open and close the valve 94 in a controlled manner to be describedhereinafter. The solenoid 96 is in turn coupled to a control elementwithin the housing 92. Within the tubular section 90 there is disposed awater level sensing means in the form of a float 104. The float 104 iscoupled to a shaft 106 which extends axially through the tubular section90. The float 104 is smaller in diameter dimension than the innerdiameter dimension of the tubular section 90 so as to provide an annularspace or channel 108. The annular channel permits the water to bedispensed into the trough 24 to flow from the tubular section 90 intothe trough 24.

Referring now to FIG. 4, within the housing 92, there is provided amicro-switch 110 which is mounted to an internal wall 112 of the housing92. The switch 110 includes a control arm 140 which is arranged toengage the shaft 106 which extends axially from the float 104. Theswitch 110 is also coupled to the solenoid 96 in any well known mannerfor actuating the solenoid 96 to thereby close the valve 94.

Referring once again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can there be noted inaccordance with a particular feature of the present invention that thefeed delivery means 34 and water dispensing means 36 are coupled to andcontrolled by a control means comprising a control panel 120 and firstand second timers 122 and 124. The first timer 122 is arranged to causethe control panel 120 to actuate the motor 66 to deliver feed to thedumping units 56 and to energize the arm 86 to cause the dumping unitsto dispense the feed into the trough 24. The second timer 124 isarranged to cause the control panel 120 to disable the water dispensingmeans 36 for a predetermined time period after actuating the latches 82of the dumping units 56 and to thereafter actuate the valve 94 of thewater dispensing means 36 to cause water to be dispensed into the trough24. To that end, the control panel 120 is coupled to the housing 92 ofthe water dispensing means 36 by a line 126.

The timers 122 and 124 may preferably be a type well known in the arthaving a plurality of pins which are individually selectable forinitiating a timed control cycle. Preferably, the livestock could be fedonce each day with a controlled amount of feed. The amount of feed to befed to the livestock is controlled in a manner as described previously.

In operation, the first timer 122 causes the control panel 120 toenergize the motor 66. The motor 66 remains energized until all of thedumping units 56 are filled with feed. After the dumping units 56 arefilled with feed, the arm 86 is actuated to cause the latches 82 torelease the bottoms 80 of the dumping units 56. The weight of the feedacts against the spring pressure of the spring mounting arrangement ofthe bottoms 80 and causes the bottoms 80 to open to thereby dispense thefeed into the trough 24. After the feed has been dispensed from thedumping units 56, the spring mounting arrangement of the bottoms 80cause the bottoms to return to their closed and locked positions.

After the feed has been dispensed into the trough 24, the second timer124 causes the control panel 120 to disable the water dispensing means36. The water dispensing means 36 remains disabled for a predeterminedtime period, such as, for example, two hours, to provide the livestockwith sufficient time to consume the feed dispensed into the trough.During this time, the solenoid 96 which controls the valve 94 isdisabled precluding inadvertent enabling of the water dispensing means36.

Upon the completion of the predetermined time interval, after thelivestock have had sufficient time to consume the feed dispensed intothe trough 24, the second timer 124 enables the solenoid 96 to thuscause the solenoid 96 to open the valve 94. Water then flows from thewater source, through the coupling member 100, the valve 94 and thecoupling conduit 102 into the tubular section or delivery portion 90.The water then flows downwardly through the tubular section 90 andthrough the annular passage 108. By virtue of the annular passage 108,and because of the close spacing between the terminal end of the tubularsection 90 and the bottom 26 of the trough 24, turbulent flow of wateris created around the tubular section 90 and the water level sensingfloat 104 to wash residual feed remaining in the trough away therefromto preclude interference or clogging of the float 104 and the waterdispenser by the residual feed. Also, because the delivery portion 90 isat one end of the trough 24, the residual feed will further be displacedtoward the livestock for consumption. As water enters the trough 24, thefloat 100 will rise as a result of being acted upon by the water levelwithin the trough. When a predetermined water level has been reachedwithin the trough 24, the shaft 106 will engage the switch arm 114 tocause the micro-switch 110 to close. When the switch 110 closes, thesolenoid 96 is actuated for closing the valve 94 to terminate thedispensing of water into the trough 24. As a result, a controlled amountof water is introduced into the trough at a preset time followingfeeding of the livestock.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, modifications may be made, and it is therefore intendedto cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications whichfall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A system for dispensing feed andwater to livestock comprising: container means including a bottom wallarranged to receive the feed and water and adapted to permit access tothe feed and water by the livestock for consumption; feed delivery meansfor dispensing feed into said container means; water dispensing meansfor dispensing water into said container means and including a deliveryportion extending into said container means; and control means foractuating and causing said feed delivery means to dispense a controlledamount of feed into said container means and for thereafter actuatingand causing said water dispensing means to dispense water into saidcontainer means through said delivery portion after the feed deliverymeans has been actuated and a predetermined livestock feed consumptiontime has elapsed, said delivery portion of said water dispensing meansterminating proximate to said container means bottom wall and beingarranged for directing the water at said bottom wall for washing feedaway from said delivery portion to thereby preclude interference orclogging of said delivery portion by said feed.
 2. A system as definedin claim 1 wherein said control means further includes a first timeclock for periodically actuating said feed delivery means and a secondtime clock for thereafter actuating said water dispensing means.
 3. Asystem as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means further includesmeans for disabling said water dispensing means during saidpredetermined livestock feed consumption time interval.
 4. A system asdefined in claim 1 wherein said water dispensing means includes waterlevel sensing means within said delivery portion for detecting the waterlevel within said container means, and deactuating means responsive tosaid water level sensing means for deactuating said water dispensingmeans when the water within said container means reaches a predetermineddepth.
 5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said water dispensingmeans includes a valve adapted to be coupled to a source of water,wherein said delivery portion comprises a tubular section extending intosaid container means and terminating closely adjacent to said containermeans bottom wall, wherein said water level sensing means comprises afloat within said tubular section coupled to said deactuating means, andwherein said deactuating means is coupled to said valve for closing saidvalve responsive to the position of said float.
 6. A system as definedin claim 5 wherein said deactuating means comprises a switch having acontrol arm and wherein said float includes a shaft extension extendingthrough said tubular section and arranged to engage said switch arm whensaid float senses that the water within said container means has reachedsaid predetermined depth.
 7. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein saidtubular section is coupled to said valve for receiving the water to bedispensed into said container means and wherein said float is smaller indimension than the inner dimension of said tubular section to form anannular passage therebetween for passing the water into said containerand for promoting turbulent water flow at the end of said tubularsection for washing said feed away therefrom.
 8. A system as defined inclaim 7 wherein said container means comprises an elongated trough andwherein said water dispensing means is positioned at one end of saidtrough.
 9. A system for dispensing feed and water for livestockconsumption comprising: container means including a bottom wall arrangedto receive the feed and water and adapted to permit access to the feedand water by the livestock for consumption; feed delivery means fordispensing feed into said container means; water dispensing means fordispensing water into said container means and including a housingextending into the container means and water level sensing float meansfor disabling said water dispensing means responsive to a predeterminedwater level within said container means housing being reached; andcontrol means for actuating said feed delivery means for causing saidfeed delivery means to dispense the feed into said container means andfor enabling said water dispensing means at a predetermined time afteractuating said feed delivery means; said water dispensing means beingarranged with respect to said container means bottom wall and said waterlevel sensing means for simultaneously washing feed within saidcontainer away from said water dispensing means and from said waterlevel sensing means upon dispensing water into said container means topreclude interference or clogging of said water dispensing means andsaid water level sensing means by the feed.
 10. A system as defined inclaim 9 further comprising a valve and a switch, wherein said switch iscoupled to said valve and arranged to be engaged by said float meanswhen said predetermined water level is reached for actuating said valveand disabling said water dispensing means.
 11. A system as defined inclaim 10 wherein said float means is of lesser dimension than saidhousing to form a peripheral channel within said housing through whichthe dispensed water passes, and wherein said housing terminatesproximate to the bottom of said container means to promote turbulentwater flow around said housing for washing the feed therefrom.
 12. Asystem for dispensing feed and water to livestock comprising: containermeans including a bottom wall arranged to receive the feed and water andadapted to permit access to the feed and water by the livestock forconsumption; feed delivery means for dispensing feed into said containermeans; water dispensing means for dispensing water into said containermeans and including a delivery tube portion extending into saidcontainer means; and control means for actuating and causing said feeddelivery means to dispense a controlled amount of feed into saidcontainer means and for actuating and causing said water dispensingmeans to dispense water into said container means through said deliverytube portion after actuating said feed delivery means, said deliverytube portion of said water dispensing means terminating proximate tosaid container means bottom wall and being arranged for directing thewater at said bottom wall for washing feed away from said deliveryportion to thereby preclude interference or clogging of said deliveryportion by said feed, the control means further including a float memberdisposed within the water delivery tube and a water delivery deactuatingmeans connected to the float member for halting water delivery when thewater within the container reaches a predetermined depth.